At its sold-out 13th annual Breakfast of Champions Sunday, Sport Aurora honoured the achievements of 12 teams, 125 athletes and 28 coaches who competed in in provincial and national championships.
Held at Aurora’s Stonehaven Banquet Hall, and presented by the Town of Aurora, former NHL player Jim Thomson returned as emcee for the 10th year.
“As someone who knows the highs and lows of professional sports, I can tell you, becoming a champion is no easy feat," he said in a Sport Aurora news release. "To the athletes, congratulations, I’m honoured to be in this room with you because you are all champions.”
Sport Aurora president Ron Weese acknowledged the significance not only of achieving high levels in sport, but of helping others succeed – and giving back to the community.
“The most important thing for me is the friendship we’ve developed over the many years you’ve been serving this community,” he continued. “You’ve been a great supporter of sport, and you live that dream. I want to thank you for all of this, and for your contribution to this event.”
Teams and Organizations Honoured
The 12 teams and organizations recognized at the event included a diverse array of sports, from gymnastics and martial arts to lacrosse and swimming. Those honoured were: K.O. Club Martial Arts, Aurora Master Ducks, Kids Super Gym, Shaolin Martial Arts Canada, Redbirds Lacrosse (U13 Boys Division D), York Artistic Swimming, Spectrum North Baton Club, Global Gymnastics, Evolution Gymnastics, Special Olympics Ontario-Aurora, Team Ontario Astros (U16 Boys), and Team Ontario Astros (U14 Boys).
Athlete of the Year: Chloe Daniels
Chloe Daniels, a standout in Canadian rugby, was named Sport Aurora’s 2024 Athlete of the Year. At just 21, Daniels has already made her mark on the national stage. A member of the Queen’s University Women’s Rugby Team and Canada’s Women’s Rugby Sevens Team, she has represented Canada at multiple international competitions. This year, Chloe led Canada in points on the HSBC SVNS Series and had earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Her journey began with the Aurora Barbarians Rugby Football Club, and her rapid rise in the sport is a source of pride for the Aurora community. Chloe follows in the footsteps of her father, Nick Daniels, who was named Sport Aurora’s Coach of the Year in 2020.
Chloe was unable to attend the event, as she is recovering from surgery, noted Nick Daniels, who accepted the award on her behalf.
“She did want me to express her thanks to Sport Aurora, and wanted to thank the Aurora community for all their support during the Olympics. She received thousands of text messages, Facebook messages, Instagram posts – and it was very humbling for her.”
Coach of the Year: Todd Martin
Todd Martin, an International Softball Hall of Famer, was named the 2024 Coach of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the Aurora Diggers Girls Softball Association. Since joining the Diggers as a coach in 2012, Martin has built championship-winning teams and mentored young athletes with a dedication that extends beyond the field.
This year, under Martin’s leadership, the Diggers U19 team claimed Gold at the Ontario Provincial Championships and Silver at the Canadian National Championships, marking the best showing by an Ontario team in years. His influence, however, goes beyond these victories, playing a role in the overall development of these athletes.
“A good coach can change the outcome of the game,” added Martin. “A great coach can change the outcome of a life – and that resonated with me. I hold myself accountable to that statement every day.”
Keynote Speaker: Andrew Kooger
The keynote address was delivered by Andrew Kooger, co-founder of Maximus Athletics, an adaptive athlete and inspirational speaker. In 2020, a mountain biking accident left Kooger paralyzed from the waist down, challenging his identity as a successful banker and athlete who not only did mountain biking, but was heavily involved in the gym, practiced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, played tennis, and was training for the Scotiabank.
But rather than letting the injury define him, he used it as an opportunity to rebuild his life and inspire others. Kooger is now an advocate for adaptive sports, competing in adaptive mountain biking and hand cycling, with aspirations to represent Canada in the Paralympics. And he will be racing in the 2025 Canada Summer Games. Kooger also leads the Defy The Odds Foundation, which helps at-risk youth access sports and athletics.
“You are in control of the outcome of your life,” Kooger told the audience. “Your hardships do not define you, and they most certainly do not define the outcome of your life. Whatever negative situation you find yourself in, you are in control of the choices you make. So never let that inner athlete die. Let it fuel every choice you make in your life – and find purpose.”
